Thread-feeding mechanism for knitting-machines.



PATENTED APR. 21-, 1903.

G. D. MAYO. I THREAD FEEDING 'MEGHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20, 1903.'

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.PATENTED APR, 21,1903.-

G. 1). MAYO. THREAD FEEDING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED EAR. 20,,1903.

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' PATENTED APR, 21, 19-03.

G. D. MAYO. THREAD FEEDING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20, 1903.

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E w m 3 3n 3 3% km E M wm 8 mm an um mm 3m w m. w \ksm. am al NM. 39 E EE3 E8 km IR 1 r 1 m m3 lNo. 726,229. PATENTED APR. 21-, 1903.

G. D. MAYO.

THREAD FEEDING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MAGHINES.

- APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20, 1903.

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"No. 726,229. PATENTED APR; 21, 1903.

' r G. D. MAYO. THREAD FEEDING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED vMAR. 20, 1903.

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G. 1). MAYO. THREAD FEEDING MECHANISM FOR. KNITTING MAGHINES.

APPLIMTIDK FILED MAR. 20, 1903.

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' UNITED STATES PATENT OF ICE.

' GEORGE D. MAYO, OF FRANKLIN, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

THREAD-FEEDINQ MECHANISM FOR KNITTING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 726,229, dated April21, 1903.

Application filed March 20, 1903.

To ctZZ whom: it may concern: 1

Be it knownthat I, GEORGE'D. 'MAYo,-"a citizen of the United States,residing at Franklin, in the county of Merrimack and State of NewHampshire, have invented an Improvementin Thread-Feeding Mechanism forKnittingMachines, of which the following description, in connection withthe accompanying drawings, isa specification, like characters on thedrawings representing like parts.

' Knitting-machines, particularly when of the circular type, such ascommonly used in the knitting of stockings, are usually provided withthread-feeding mechanisms for supplying the requisite or extrathreads tothe stockings being knit to produce the desired efiectas, for instance,to give extra weight or wearing qualities thereto, usually atthe heeland toe portions thereof.

Prior to my invention thread-feeding mechanisms have usually providedfor bringing the end of the extra or new thread alongside of the main orrunning thread and in frictional engagement therewith, so as to be drawnfrict-ionally by the running thread to the machine to be knit into theknitted fabric, or else said mechanisms have been provided with meansfor wrapping or winding the end of the extra or new thread or a portionthereof near its end one or more times about and upon therunning-thread, thereby to increase the certainty of frictionalengagement between the two threads and make sure the drawing of theextra or new thread to the work with and by the running-thread. Boththese types of mechanism have, however, in practice proven more or lessdefective largely because ofvthe inadequacy of frictional engagement ofthe one thread with the other, particularly when either of the threadsis relatively hard and wiry, as is frequently the case, such a threadhaving so much inherent resiliency or springiness that it tends tospring away or unwind from the thread with which it is engaged as soonas released by the-winding mechanism, thereby entirely destroying thefrictional engagement necessary to enable the one to be drawn by theother to the work.

My present invention aims to improve mechanisms of this sort, whereby torender more Serial No. 143,704. (No model.)

certain the engagement of several threads,

and thereby insure more certain carrying forward of theextra or newthread or threads to the work when desired.

To enable my invention to be understood,

.I will first describe the same in connection anism proper; Fig. 3, asimilar view showing the parts in different positions; Fig. 4, a top orplan view of the parts as shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 5, a horizontalsectional detail on the dotted line 5 5, Fig. 2, showing portions of thecam-segment'and associated parts which are concealed in Fig. 4; Fig.6,'a detail looking at the face of the segmental cam-plate 328,

Figs. 2 and-3, the View looking from the left in said figures; Fig. 7, asectional detail looking at the end of the drawing-through device,showing the same on an enlarged scale; Fig. 8, a horizontal sectionthereof on the dotted line 8 8; Fig. 9, a horizontal sectional detailshowing the combined clamping and severing device; Figs. 10, 11, 12, and13, perspective details illustrating various steps in the formation ofthe knot which in the. mechanism shown is relied upon to furnish therequired engagement between the threads; Fig. 14, a view showing theknotted formation prior to tightening thereof, and Fig. 15 a perspectivedetail illustrating the manner of engaging the extra thread for severingthe same when it is no longer required in the work.

In the particular embodiment of; my invention selected for illustrationthereof and shown in the drawings I have'provided means for engaging therequired threads-for example,the running-thread and the extra threadandproducing therein or therewith a knot formation that may be drawn taut,and thereby insure a tight or firm frictional engagement thereof, suchas will prevent the extra the parts comprising the thread-feedingmechthread, however wiry it may be, from springing out of engagementwith the runningthread before it is drawn into the work.

Referring first to Fig. 1 of the drawings, my invention obviously may beused in connection with any kind or type of knittingmachine. Forconvenience herein I have illustrated my in vention in connection with acircular machine, such as shown and described in my application forLetters Patent of the United States, filed December 4, 1902, Serial No:133,823, to which reference may be had for a full and completedescription of the construction and operation thereof.

It is suflicient here to designate merely the bed-plate B, the needles11, mounted in a suitable needle-cylinder, (not shown,) the skeletoncylinder 8,th rough which the heels 11 protrude to be acted upon by thestitch-cam mounted on the cam-ring C, and the latchring 43, provided at46 with a thread guide or eye through which the knitting thread orthreads is or are conducted to the machine. Suspended from the bed-plateB is a camring 82, so constructed that when rotated in one direction-as,for instance, in the direction of the arrow, Fig. l it will in the firstpart of its movement cause the switch-cam 49 to be moved to elevate,say,one-half of the neodles prior to narrowing for the heel and toe andto set in operation the picker device or devices (50 for narrowing andbyfurther movement in the same direction cause operation of the pickerdevice or devices for widening, and then substantially simultaneously bya single return movement in a direction opposite said arrow throw outthe picker device or devices and operate the switch-cam 49 to depressthe elevated needles preparatory to resumption ofcireular knitting. Thiscamring 82, as set forth in my saidapplication, is given the necessaryrotary reciprocatory movements by means of a link 90, connecting thesaid ring with an arm 91 on a vertical rock-shaft 92, which in turn isrotated by means of an arm 98, fast upon its lower'end and carrying astud 99, which enters a camgroove 100 in a barrel or cylinder cam10l,fast on a pattern-shaft 102, forming part of a pattern mechanism, ofwhich the chain 147 is shown as a part.

It will be noticed by reference to Fig. 1 that the olfsets in thecam-groove 100, of which buttone can be seen, which produce thedescribed movements of the cam-ring 82, have at one side two steps 300and 301 for producing the first two movements described-viz, one forthrowing in the switch-cam to elevate the needles and the other to setin operation the picker mechanism for widening and a single return step302 for throwing out the picker mechanism and for depressing theelevated needles.

It is usually desired that the extra thread shall be engaged with themain thread at the commencement of the narrowing, which marks thecommencement of a heel or toe portion and which it is ordinarily desiredto re-' inforce or thicken, and it is desired also that the said extrathread shall be severed or withdrawn at the close of the widening, whichmarks the completion of the heel or toe. It is therefore convenient insuch instances to operate the extra-thread mechanism from'and by themeans employed for moving the camring 82, which sets in operation thenarrowing and widening devices, and this is done in the present instanceby utilizing for the operation of the extra-thread mechanism thevertical rock-shaft 92, referred to.

Turning now to Figs. 1, 3, and 4, upon the stationary threadguide post94, erected upon the frame of the machine, there is secured a head 303,provided with two horizontally-extended supporting-arms 304 305. Thetopmost arm 304 has at its free end a downturned arm 306, carrying atits lower end a thread-guide 307, through which the thread or threads isor are conducted to the machine. The main or running thread is takenfrom any suitable source as, for instance, a cop T, (see Fig. 1)and isled upwardly to and through a suitably located guiding-eye t, thence toand through the said arm 304, issuing from andat the under side thereofthrough a hollow pinion 308, loosely journaled at the under side of saidarm upon a depending fixed tubular thread-guide, which terminates in atapering nose 310, through which the thread issues and passes to theguiding-eye 307 below. The extra or reinforcing thread taken from anysuitable sourceas, for example, a second cop T, Fig. 1--is led upwardlyto and through a suitable guiding-eye t, thence to and through a lateralguiding-ap erture 311 in the downturned arm 306, and thence to andthrough the tubular rotary carrier 312, which depends from alaterally-extended arm 313, fast on the barrel 309 of the guiding-pinionreferred to.

Asbest shown in Fig. 10, in the normal condition of the mechanism, withthe main thread running to the machine, the end of the extra thread whennot in use is held slightly to one side of the rotary carrier 312 in aclamp consisting of a movable hooked member 314, arranged to slidebetween the top and bottom fingers 315 316 of a holder 317. (See Fig.9.) This holder is clamped in the slotted head 318 of an operating-lever319, fulcrumed upon a horizontal stud 320, Fig. 9, which projectslaterally from the end of the lower horizontal supporting-arm 305 of themain head 303, referred to.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 9, the sliding hooked member 314 has at itsrear end a projecting lug 321, which enters a suitable aperture in asliding plate 322, arranged to slide horizontally upon and at the sideface of the said operating-lever 319, said sliding plate havinghorizontal slots for the reception of the guiding-screws 323, carried bysaid lever. A spring 324, attached to the said sliding plate and to apost 325 on the said operating-lever,

' The bottom finger 316 of the said head and the cooperating lower edgeof the hook 314' constitute a severing device or shears such that whenthe said hook is drawn inwardly draws the sliding plate and itsconnected hooked member314normally to the-right,Figs. 3 and 9, with thehooked end of said member 314 within and between the top and bottomfingers 315 316 of the head 317, referred to.

between the said top and bottom fingers 315 and 316 they will cooperateto shear off or sever the thread pulled to one sideby thehook. The topfinger 315, in connection with the dulled upper edge of the hook 314,constitutes a clamp which simultaneously with the cutting, shearing, or'severing engages and clamps the severed-thread end. Thus the devicedescribed constitutes a combined severing device and clamp tosever thethread and clamp or hold the end immediately back of the point at which'it has been severed. At its inner or rear end the operating-lever 319has a portion 326,'which enters a oam-slot' 327, out in the segmentalplate 328, which is mounted at its ends (see Figs. 3 and 4) upon theradially-extending arms329 of a hub 330, fast upon the verticalrotatable rod 92, previously referred to. This rod 92 at its upper endis supported andturns in suitable bear-- ings 331, provided therefor inand at the sides of the'supporting-arms 304 305. The sliding plate 322,referred to, at its inner or rear end is arranged at its lower edge tobe acted upon bya cam 332 upon the face of the segmental plate 328, andat its upper edge the said sliding plate has a vertically-extendedfinger 333,

(see Figs. 3 and 6,) which is adapted to be 322 to the left, Fig.3, toproject its hook 314 outwardly from between the clamping and shearingfingers 315 316, whereas movement of the segmental plate 328 from rightto left will cause the said finger 333 to pass behind the swinging cam334, the latter swinging to clear and'without moving the same.

4, and 5) has a cam-slot 338 therein for the reception of a stud 339,depending from a laterally-extended arm 340 on a hub 341, journaledabout a vertical stud or bearing 342 in the supporting-arm 304. This hub341 carries also a segmental gear 343, which meshes with the tubularguiding-pinion 308, referred to, Thus any rotative movement of thevertical rook-shaft 92 to cause the extra thread in the rotary carrier312 to be carried about the main or running thread will-also cause Thepinion-actuating plate 336 (see Figs. 3,

endwise movementof the slidingplate 322 to cause the hook 314 toprotrude from or be withdrawn between the clamping 'and'shearing fingers315 316, the movements beingproperly timed, as will be hereinafterdescribed, by the shapes of the respective cams 338 an 327 in the'plates336 and 328. 1

Referring again to Figs. 2 and 3, below the operating-lever 319 there isa'second operating-lever344, mounted upon a horizontal stud 345,projecting laterally from the side of the lower supporting-arm 305, tl1einner or rear end of the said second 'operating-lever-(see Fig. 3)entering a cam-shaped slot 346 in'the segmental plate 328. Thissecondo'peratinglever 344 at its free end-carries a verticallyextendedfixed drawing-through hook 347. (See Figs. 7 and 8.) Cooperating withthis hook is a vertically-movable clamping mema pair oflaterally-extended lugs .349, between which enters the end of anauxiliary lever 350, carried by and at the side of the0perat-- ing-lever344. This auxiliary lever 350 is fulcrumed upon a screw 351,carried-by-the said -lever 344, and at its rear end terminatesimmediately in front of the face of the segmental plate 328 and inposition to be acted upon by a cam-lug 351 thereon. The'operatingber348, arranged to slide in a slot milled in the side of the hook-shankandprovided with lever 350 is held normally in position,'with theclamping member 348 incontaotwiththe under side of the hook 347, by aspring 352, coiled about a screw 353 -on the said operating-lever andhavingits ends/respectively engaging the said operating lever and thesaid auxiliary lever.

In the normalposition of the mechanism the hook 349and its cooperatingclamping member348, which together constitute one form of what mayproperly be called a drawing-through device, together occupy a position,as indicated in Fig. 10, between the rotary carrier 312 and the taperingnose-310,

through which the main or running "thread isled.

r Referring now to Figs. 2, 4, andlO, assuming the main thread (markedy) to berunning to the machine and the end of the extra or re 319 andthe inner end of the drawing-through operating-lever 344 to travel pastthe'offset portions "354 and 355 of their respective camslots 327 and346 of said plate. By the same movement the depending stud'339 ofthe-gearseg-ment is caused ,to travel past the offset IIC) portion 356of its cam-slot 338, Fig. 5, in the cam-plate 336 and swings the toothedsegment 343 so as to rotate the pinion 308 and its r0- tarythread-carrier 312 one and one-half times around the nose 310, throughwhich the main threadis running to the machine. Bearing in mind that theend of the extra thread is held clamped between the hook 314 and finger315, Fig. 10, this rotative movement of the rotary thread-carrier 312acts to wind a portion of the extra thread which is back of the end ofsaid thread one and one-half times around the said nose 310 and aroundthe drawing-through device 347 standing beside it.

In Fig. 11 the carrier 312'is shown as completing its first turn aroundthe nose 310 and drawing-through device 347. During the last half of thefirst complete rotation of the rotary thread-carrier the clamp 314 315,holding the end of the extra thread, is raised from the level Fig. tothe level Fig. 11 by the action of the ofiset portion 354 of its camupon the end 326 of its operating-lever 319, thereby raising the portionof extra thread first carried about the nose 310 to the level of thedrawing-through hook 347, the clamping member of which has been openedto receive it by the action upon its operating-1e ver of the face-lug351 of the segmental plate 328 described. As the rotary thread-carrier312 continues its movement through the last half-rotation thereof thesaid cam-lug 351 clears the rear end of the auxiliary lever 350 andpermits the latter, acted upon by its spring 352, to spring upwardly andbring the clamping member 348 of the drawing-through device tightlyagainst the drawing-through hook 347, so as to nip or clamp between itand the said hook the portion of the extra thread which was firstcarried about the nose 310 and which, as described, had been raised to ahigher level than the portion carried about on the second half-rotationof the carrier. Immediately after the drawing-through device has thusseized the extra thread the face-cam 332 (see Fig. 3) of the segmentalplate 328 engages the lower rear corner of the sliding plate 322 andmoves the latter to the left, Fig. 3, to eject its clamping and shearinghook 314 from between the fingers 315 316, thereby freeing the end ofthe extra thread and leaving the latter tightly nipped just back of itsend in and by the drawing-through device. The parts are now in theposition Fig. 12, where it will be seen that the drawing-through devicelies within the second half-turn of the thread'about the nose 310 andholds nipped in its end and above the said second half-turn of threadthe now-free end of the said thread. At this point in the swingingmovement of the segmental plate 328 the rear end of the drawing-throughoperating-lever 344 clears the portion 357 of the said segmental plate,permitting the longer front end to drop by gravity into its full-lineposition, Figs. 13 and 3. This dropping of the said lever performs twofunctions-namely, it causes the drawing-through device to draw the freeend of the extra thread down through or within the loop in the extrathread which is below it, thus forming a bight in the form of a knot, asindicated in dotted lines, Fig. 13, and in full lines, Fig. 14, and atthe same time by its further movement it draws the said knot tightlyabout and upon the running thread, as indicated in Fig. 13, so as to becarried to the machine therewith. In the downward tightening movement ofthe drawing-through device, immediately upon the tightening of the knotabout and upon the running thread, the further fall of itsoperating-lever causes the rear end of the auxiliary lever 350 to strikethe stop 350, which moves said lever sufficiently to open or ease off onthe drawing-throughdevice clamp and release the end of the extra thread,permitting the same to be drawn to the machine with the main thread. Allthis takes place, as stated, during the first part of the initialmovement imparted to the camring 82, which causes the throwing up of onehalf the needles preparatory to narrowing, so that by the time thesecond half of said initial movement of said ring takes place, due tothe second step 301 of the cam 101, Fig. 1, the extra thread thusknotted to the main thread will have reached or practically reached theneedles, and upon the second step movement of the said cam-ring forthrowing in the needle-picking devices, at which time the actualnarrowing commences, the extra thread will be in readiness to be knitintothe work. Thissecondandfurthermovement of the said rock-shaft 92produces no further movement of the parts of the threaddeliveringmechanism, because the cam-slots 338, Fig. 5, and 327 and 346, Fig. 3,are provided with idle portions for the balance of the movement of saidrock-shaft. The widening having been completed upon the completion of aheel or toe, the return movement of the rock-shaft 92 swings thesegmental plate 328 in an opposite direction, or from right to left,Figs. 2 and 3. The first part of this return movement performs no workin connection with the extra-thread mechanism, owing to the idleportions of the cam-grooves referred to. During the last half movementof said cam-surfaces, however, the toothed sector 343 is moved to rotatethe extra-thread carrier 312 back again through the one andone-halfturns about the nose3l0 toits original position, Fig. 10. Duringthis return movement and just as the said carrier has completed thefirst half thereof the portion 326 upon the inner end of theoperating-lever 319 reaches the oifset 354inits cam-groove 327 anddepresses the combined clamp and shear to a level below the bottom ofthe rotary threadcarrier. Simultaneously with this depression of saidclamp and shear the finger 333 upon the sliding plate 322 on said levermeets and rides over the swinging cam 334, which slides it forward andprojects the clamping-hook 314 outward from between the fingers 315 316,so that in the latter part of the return rotation of the rotarythreadcarrier about the nose 310 the said extra thread is laid under thesaid hook 314, as in Fig. 15, in order that as the said finger 333clears the swinging cam 334 and springs to the right, Fig. 2, it maydraw the hook 314 between the fingers 315 316 and by the action of itslower edge, in connection with the lower finger, sever the said extrathread, and by the action of its upperedge with the upper finger clampthe free end back of the point at which it was severed. At the same timethe drawing-through operating-lever 344 is returned to its elevatedposition, Figs. 2 and 10, in readiness for the formation of a secondknot when the extra thread is again desired to be introduced into thework. The upward or return movement of the drawing-through device shouldbe de layed with respect to the return movement of the other partsbeyond the time at which it would occur if produced by the offsetportion 355 of the cam 346. To effect-this delayed return, I have madethe portion 357 of said cam as a swinging tongue, the same swingingabout a radial pivot 358, acted upon from behind by a spring 359, whichholds the said tongue normally in its horizontal position, Figs. 3 and6. In the first movement of the; said segment from right to left therear operating end of the operating lever 344 passes under thiscam-tongue and'upwardly along the offset 355. On the return movement,however, from left to right the rear end i of the said operating-leverpasses above this tongue until it meets the downwardly -inclined surface360, which depresses it, the cam-tongue yielding before it. I

By the particular mechanism described the extra thread is engaged withthe main or running thread. by a knot formation of the threads, whichinvolves one illustration of the drawing of one portion of threadthrough or within another looped portion of thread. However this is doneand whatever he the engaging formation, the fact that one portion ofthread is carried into pinching contact witha pluralityof other threadportions insures positive and certain engagement of the two threadswhich are to travel to the machine together and whichmustbeentirelywantingin anyarrangements involving the mere laying of theend of one thread next to and parallel with another or where the end ofone thread is merely wrapped one or more times about and upon the other,leaving its end free to spring away and unwind if the threads or eitherof them are more or less wiry or springy. The mechanism describedfurther provides a means for positively ti htening the formation of onethread upon the other beyond what is possible by the mere carrying ofone thread about the other. It will be noticed also that with theparticular mechanism illustrated the entire engaging formation isobtained without carrying the free end of one thread about the other.

Referring now to Figs. 2, 3, and 4, the upper supporting-arm 304 carriesa laterally-extended lug 361, in which is mounted a horizontal stud362,upon which is loosely mounted the hub 363 of the depending take-up364, having a usual thread-guide 365 at its lower end, through which themain thread normally runs. A coiled spring 366 encircles the stud 362and is attached at one of its ends to the hub of the take-up arm andatits opposite end to a collar 367, fast on the end of said stud, saidspring tending normally to swing the said take-up arm away from the lineof traverse of the threads. During the reciprocating movements of themachine for narrowing and widening this take-up, in a manner wellunderstood by those skilled in the art, operates to take up the slack inthe main and thickening threads, whatever number be employed. Duringcircular knitting this take-up is held positively out of action by alever 368, Fig. 4, fulcrumed upon the vertical stud 342 and acting atits outer end behind an ear 369 on the take-up-arm hub, it being actedupon at its inner end by a short arm 370, fast on the upper end of therocking rod 92. When the said rod is turned from right to left uponcompletion of a heel or toe, said arm 370 engages the lever 368 andthrows its free end outwardly, thereby, through the lug 369 on thetake-up arm, throwing the lower end of said arm inward, with its eye inalinement with the line of traverse of the threads. Upon oppositemovement of the said rock-shaft at the beginning of a heel or toe when atake-up is desired the arm 370 is moved away from the inner end of saidlever 368, permitting aspring 371 to throw that end of said leveroutward and its free .end inward away from the lug 369 of thetake-up-arm hub, leaving the take-up under the influence of its spring366 to take up slack in the thread as necessary. of thethread-delivering-mechanism support is provided immediately below thethreadguide eye 307 with a suitable clamp 371 in the form of a lightclamping-plate loosely mounted upon the pin 372. This pin is carriedupon one end of a short rocker-arm 373, pivoted at 374 to said dependingarm and connected at its rear end by a wire 375 with one arm of abell-crank lever 376, pivoted at 377 also to said depending arm, butnear the top thereof. The other arm of said bell-crank lies in the pathof a finger 378 on the end of the take-up-controlling lever 368, so thatwhen the said lever is moved to release the take-up it simultaneouslyand by the same movement releases the bell-crank lever andits connectedclamp-lever below and permits the clamp to be drawn by its spring 379toward the face of the depending arm immediately back of it, thereby toclamp the thread or threads above the take-up arm The depending arm 306sufficiently to cause the latter to draw the slack from the machinerather than from the source of the thread-supply. When thetakeup-operating lever 368 is moved outwardly to hold the take-uppositively in its innermost position, as shown in full lines in thedrawings, the finger 378 thereon overrides the end of the upright arm ofthe bell-crank lever 376 and moves the same and its connectedclamp-lever below to throw the thread-clamp 371 away from the adjacentface of the said depending arm to permit the thread-orth reads to runfreely past the same without frictional or clamping action.

I have here described one (the preferred) embodiment of my invention;but it is to be understood that my invention is not restricted orlimitedto the particular embodiment thereof nor to the particular use thereofhere shown and described by way of illustration thereof, for it may bevariously embodied within the spirit and scope of the invention. Neitheris my invention restricted in its use to two threads only, forfrequently several threads are handled as one, or otherwise.

I claim 1. A thread-feeding mechanism'for a knitting-machine, containingmeans for engaging a plurality of threads by a knot formation.

2. A thread-feeding mechanism for a knitting-machine containing meansfor drawing one portion of a thread into pinching contact with aplurality of other thread portions.

3. A thread-feeding mechanism for a knitting-machine containing meansfor tying a knot in one thread about and upon another.

4. A thread-feeding mechanism for a knitting-machine containing meansfor engaging an extra thread with a main thread by a knot formation.

5. A thread-feeding mechanism for a knitting-machine containing meansfor engaging an extra thread with a main thread by drawing one portionof a thread inside another looped portion of thread.

6. A thread-feeding mechanism for a knitting-machine containing meansfor engaging a plurality of threads by a knot formation without carryingthe end of either thread about another.

7. A thread-feeding mechanism for a knitting-machine containing meansfor engaging a plurality of threads by a formation involving the passingof a portion of one thread within or through a looped portion of thesame thread.

8. A thread-feeding mechanism for a knitting-machine containing meansfor engaging a plurality of threads by a knot formation and means forsevering one of said threads back of said knot.

9. A thread-feeding mechanism for a knitting-machine containing meansfor engaging a plurality of threads by a knot formation, means forsevering one of said threads back of said knot and means for holding theend of the severed thread.

10. A thread-feeding mechanism fora knitting-machine containing meansfor engaging a plurality of threads by a knot formation, and a combinedsevering and clamping device for one of the threads.

11. A thread-feeding mechanism for a knitting-machine containing adrawing-through device having means for engaging a thread and drawing itthrough a thread-loop.

12. A thread-feeding mechanism for a knitting-machine containing adrawingthrough device in the form of a clamp'and actuating meanstherefor.

13. Athread-feeding mechanism fora knitting-machine containing acombined clamping and severing device, means for carrying a portion ofone thread about another, and a drawing-through device.

14:. A thread-feeding mechanism for a knitting-machine containing guidesfora plurality of threads, means for carrying one thread about the lineof travel of another thread, laterally movable thread engaging means,thread-clamping means rendered operative thereby, andlongitudinally-movable drawing-through means.

15. A thread-feeding mechanism for a knitting-machine containing guidesfor a plurality of threads, means for carrying one thread about the lineof travel of another thread, laterally movable thread engaging means,thread -severing means rendered operative thereby for severing onethread, and longitudinally-movable drawing-through means.

16. A thread-feeding mechanism for aknitting-machine containing rotarymeans for carrying one thread about the line of travel of anotherthread, a laterally-movable threadengaging hook, means cooperatingtherewith to sever and hold the end of one thread, and alongitudinally-movable hook-shaped drawing-through device.

17. A thread-feedin g mechanism for a knitting-machine containing meansfor carrying one thread about the line of travel of another thread, alaterally-movable thread-engaging hook, severing and clamping means, ofwhich said hook forms a part, a longitudinally-movable drawing-throughhook, a clamp cooperating therewith and operating means for said parts.

18. A thread-feeding mechanism for a knitting-machine containing meansfor carrying one thread about another thread, a laterallymovablethread-engaging device, thread-sev ering and thread-clamping meansrendered operative therehy,means to impart rising-andfalling movementalso to said thread-engaging device, a longitudinally-movabledrawing-through device, and operating means for said parts.

19. A thread-feeding mechanism for a knitting-machine containing meansfor carrying one thread about another thread, laterallymovablethread-engaging means, thread severing and holding means renderedoperative thereby, a longitudinally-movable drawingthrough device, meansto. operate it to draw through a portion of a thread when engaging aplurality of threads one with another, and means to provide delayedreturn of said drawing through device relative to return movement of thecooperating parts.

' 20. A thread-feeding mechanism for a knitting-machine containing meansfor engaging a plurality of threads by a knot formation, and means totighten said threads so engaged, one upon another.

21. A thread-feeding mechanism for a knitting-machine containing meansfor engaging a plurality of threads by a knot formation, said meansincluding a combined drawingthrough and tightening device.

22. In aknitting-machine the combination with thread-feeding mechanismconstructed to engage a plurality of threads by a knot formation, of atake-up operating in connection therewith and between alternateoperations thereof.

23. The combination of thread feeding mechanism containing means forengaging a plurality of threads by a knot formation, and a threadtake-up, with common operating means therefor.

24. In a knitting-machine, the combination with knitting devices andnarrowing and widening means therefor, of thread-feeding mechanismcontaining means for engaging a plurality of threads by a knotformation.

25. In a knitting-machine the combination with knitting devices, ofthread feeding mechanism containing means for engaging a plurality ofthreads by a knot formation, means for severing a thread when no longerneeded, and means for operating said threadfeeding mechanism atpredetermined times relative to the operation of said knitting devices.

26. In a knitting-machine the combination with knitting devices,ofthread-feeding means for engaging a plurality of threads bya knotformation to varythe thread-feed for the machine, and means foroperating said threadfeeding mechanism at predetermined intervalsrelative to the operation of the knitting devices.

27. In a knitting-machine the combination with knitting devices, ofthread feeding mechanism containing means for engaging a plurality ofthreads, said means including meansfor drawing a portion of threadthrough another looped portion of thread, whereby to vary the number ofthreads carried to the knitting devices, and means for operating saidthread-feeding mechanism at predetermined intervals relative to theoperation of said knitting devices.

28. In a knitting-machine the combination with knitting devices, ofguiding means for a plurality of threads, means for engaging saidthreads by a formation involving the drawing of a portion of threadthrough another, looped portion of thread, whereby'a bight is obtained,and means for severing one of said threads back of the engaging point.

29. In aknitting-machine,knot-tyin g means for tying one thread toanother and means for severing one of said threads.

30. In aknitting-machine,means for engaging one thread with another,said means including means for drawing a portion of thread through aloop in another portion of thread, whereby a securing-bight is obtained.

31. In a knitting-machine,knot-tying means for tying one thread toanother.

32. In a knitting-machine,knot-tying means for tying one thread toanother, and pattern mechanism to determine the times of operation ofsaid means.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE D. MAYO.

Witnesses:

FREDERICK L. EMERY, SUSAN E. HAYNES.

